Day count: 100. Lift-served: 57, 42 of which were at Red Lodge Mountain, where conditions were almost as bad as Vermont for most of the winter. We got more snow from mid-March on, after they announced an earlier-than-scheduled closing date, than we had until that point. Other lift-served: Seven days at Big Sky (four for a coaching clinic, three while coaching at a Super-G race, but most of which involved at least a couple of good runs, too) Four days at Whitefish (Big Mountain), also coaching but during which I managed to get at least half a day's worth of real skiing in (and the snow was excellent, so it was Real Skiing with a touch of "I really hope these athletes aren't about to take me off a cliff") Four days at Bridger Bowl including a late-season day skiing with one of my roommates where we'd both cooked our legs by 2:00 (unexpectedly finding a Mobb Deep show on the way back from dinner to the motel the night before hadn't helped, I suspect). All three of those areas are new for me. Non-lift-served: 43. 16 in May, 10 in June, 4 in July, 5 in August. The late May/early June season off the Beartooth Pass was shorter than usual given the lack of snow, but I got a chance to explore some new-to-me lines and have several more on my list for next year, and I now feel like I mostly know my way around. Memorable highlights: Fresh snow during the coaching clinic in December and a clinician who understood we wanted to ski, along with sneaking in some Challenger laps after we finished up relatively early on the last day of the event Feeling like I was back in Vermont in the trees at Whitefish...and then not so much when we got a few turns in higher up on the mountain Skiing Ridge terrain at Bridger Bowl Getting to the top of the "Cole Creek" area at RLM (even if I had to hike to do so...lift never opened this year; not enough snow until the last weekend, and then the snowpack was too unstable) HItting a new personal record for ski days in May (beating 2007 by one) Catching up with telechica for some June and July turns on easily accessible snow ...and soon enough, 16-17 begins. On Wed, Aug 17, 2016 at 9:24 AM, Iski Stowe <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I didn't know they server beer at the avalanche workshops!!! > > On Tue, Aug 16, 2016 at 8:34 PM, Mark P. Renson <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > >> ESAW = Eastern Snow & Avalanche Workshop >> >> Another beer worth mentioning that I have sampled lately: >> Red Racer IPA (India Pale Ale) | Central City Brewers + Distillers >> <https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10321/49058/> >> >> >> [image: image] <https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10321/49058/> >> >> >> >> >> >> Red Racer IPA (India Pale Ale) | Central City Brewers + ... >> <https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10321/49058/> >> Red Racer IPA (India Pale Ale) is a American IPA style beer brewed by >> Central City Brewers + Distillers in Surrey, BC, Canada. 94 out of 100 with >> 482 revi... >> View on www.beeradvocate.com >> <https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10321/49058/> >> Preview by Yahoo >> >> >> You can get it in cans in Calgary for a reasonable price. Nice stuff, it >> was very welcome after my first warm shower and shave in over a week! >> >> Mark P. Renson >> >> >> On Monday, August 15, 2016 10:32 AM, Iski Stowe <[log in to unmask]> >> wrote: >> >> >> I am also a big fan of Finest Kind IPA. I have been know to buy a keg >> of it when we have parties. What is ESAW ? >> I will seek out Medusa. >> >> >> On Sat, Aug 13, 2016 at 1:27 PM, Mark P. Renson <[log in to unmask]> >> wrote: >> >> Thanks, Alex. I'd like to hear others' seasons recaps, as well. >> >> There is at least 1 ski run at Icefall Lodge that is named after me, as >> well. It's named Mad River and the first descent was in March 2005. Larry >> names his runs in reference to others or with hidden meanings. >> >> One thing I have hidden from the list - sans some cryptic references - is >> that I was involved in the first ski descents at Icefall Lodge with Larry >> Dolecki and his now wife Dr. Mette Peterson. We've all had more fun being >> quiet about it than spraying about it. It was a very demanding expedition >> that we did. We went in via snowmobile up logging roads to the base. The >> problem was that the road was not maintained and some wet slides had ripped >> loose running over the road and had refrozen. This meant we had to hack >> paths through the refrozen debris to get across 3 debris fields and we were >> delayed by a day, having to camp by the Valenciennes River which was >> actually very pleasant. The following day, we reached the "base" and >> skinned up 2800 vertical feet with full packs including camping gear to a >> point across the stream from the current Icefall Lodge - our campsite. It >> was an unusually warm winter out there (as well as the Pacific NW) so of >> course we were there during the only real significant cold snap of the >> season. Every night was sub-zero or thereabouts. The next day, we skinned >> up to the summit of 10k+ foot Kemmel Mountain ...... in foul weather. That >> was the first winter ascent and second ascent ever of that mountain. On the >> descent, we were treated to 6" new and a brutal navigational challenge. We >> did get cliffed out, but it was only a 10-12 footer which all 3 of us stuck >> and followed up with a sweet descent down Home Run Bowl. We were the be >> cliffed out 2-3 more times during the week and we turned back from those. >> The next few days, we explored the Rostrum Valley/Glacier, LaClytte Glacier >> and Bird Bowl. It was a very demanding experience and there are many >> things we are quiet about - rather than spraying, we just enjoy the >> memories. At the end of the trip, even hardman Larry admitted he was a bit >> spent. It was all worth it though for the challenge and the thrill of >> exploring, the turns and the memories! >> >> As Larry sez' here: http://www.icefall.ca/ about-icefall/ >> <http://www.icefall.ca/about-icefall/> "We more or less just built a hut >> and worried about the business side afterward. We figured the worst case >> scenario was that we had a ski hut in a cool location even if it didn’t >> make money.” It's awesome that there are still places and attitudes like >> this which explains why his operations have generated somewhat of a cult >> following and I have lost count of the times I have returned. There is at >> least 1 lurker that I know of that has been drinking the Icefall/Snowfall >> Kool-Aid, as well! >> >> Mark P. Renson >> >> >> On Friday, August 12, 2016 10:59 PM, Alex Friend <[log in to unmask]> >> wrote: >> >> >> Ranger, that is a kick-ssa, first class season report. 'specially >> Dilbert's Dive being in your honor. How many people have a run with their >> name? >> --Alex >> >> >> >> On Aug 12, 2016, at 8:58 PM, Mark P. Renson <[log in to unmask] >> <[log in to unmask]>> wrote: >> >> Well, here's my put ........ >> >> Boy did it SUCK! I found myself looking for love in some mighty strange >> places. First time to Killington since 1997 (hey, it was phun), first time >> to Okemo since 1992 and first time to Mount Snow since 1985. By early >> December, I had nailed the ASC Vermont McTroika - Sugarbush, Killington and >> Mount Snow. Hey, they all had snow and as M1 once aptly put it, to a >> starved man a Quarter Pounder looks awfully good. A rainy day at Jay >> utilizing bus shuttle access to 2 separate manufactured trails made for a >> relatively awesome day. I "anti-lost count" of the days I had on the Main >> Mountain at Mad River because my mind cannot grasp how few there were (was >> it like 7 or 6 or something like that?). Nonetheless, I did get signed off >> somehow on running sleds and an epic run was had down Fox one morning in >> boot top deep untracked in a surprise "dump". >> >> An Epic Pass was looking awfully epic. >> >> Some treats were had on Mount Washington ...... like 6" new on glare ice >> one day during an AIARE class (WOW!), some corn treats in Right Gully and >> as usual, the treat that never gets old which is corn harvesting in Left >> Gully on a bright sunny day with the Mahoosucs, Rangely and the endless >> forest of Quebec in the distance. >> >> Working on the Multi-Rescue with multiple DHART evacuations in mid-March >> with the awesome New Hampshire SAR community was especially rewarding. >> Unfortunately, Chris Joosen has moved to Oregon and Jeff Lane has left >> which means we have some huge challenges ahead of us next season. Roger >> continues to hike up and effectively patrol with us at age 87 and once more >> he had supernatural powers to get to a rescue before I did, hiking uphill >> to an incident below The Chute. >> >> Canada paid off in World Class style AGAIN for me. We were the first >> ones into Snowfall Lodge (still very little internet presence - Larry is >> too busy climbing and skiing for that internet fluff) in mid-December when >> the snowpack is anemic - ONLY ~165cm. There I worked with Igor discovering >> new virgin lines and finding out that I know a lot, but discovered I still >> have much to learn and the best part of the latter is that it's the cool >> stuff that's fun and I wanna' learn. A snowpack of F over 4F over 1F paid >> off with untracked powder turns in steeps up to 35-40 degrees ...... YES, >> you can do that IF you do your homework, lotsa' homework. I actually >> returned there in early July for some 1-on-1 Alpine Boot Camp work where we >> did 8 days of FAs, I saw my first grizzly bear, it rained/snowed 6 outta' 8 >> days and I lost 4-5 pounds. We were driven by the ghosts of Conrad Kain, >> the Feuz Brothers and the Mundays as we did 7 of 8 days in mountaineering >> boots including on lower 5th class rock. Apparently, the first named ski >> run there - Dilbert's Dive - has stuck ..... oh, and that was whimsically >> named after me. Our favourite ski run was christened Sauna Express which I >> thought was 1200 feet of 30-35 degree bliss but turns out it is 35-40 >> degrees. That was Igor's masterpiece ....... much much better than a >> Rembrandt. >> >> As for beer (sorry, I never bought into "reeb") ...... like, it's a way >> to salvage the season, my go-to beer has become the Smuttynose Finest Kind >> IPA. That was on tap at ESAW and was so fresh and tasty and wholesome that >> I became hooked. Somehow, an outstanding fresh batch was had. Brewmaster >> Jack in Massachusetts continues to impress (I'm enjoying a 4 pack of Good >> Sense IPA now) and I highly recommend their Total Eclipse Rye Porter. >> Meanwhile, the hometown heroes down the street from me continue to DOMINATE >> globally: Bay State’s Medusa beats Europe’s best at international beer >> competition >> <http://www.bostonherald.com/lifestyle/food_beverage/2016/05/bay_state_s_medusa_beats_europe_s_best_at_international_beer> >> >> >> [image: image] >> <http://www.bostonherald.com/lifestyle/food_beverage/2016/05/bay_state_s_medusa_beats_europe_s_best_at_international_beer> >> >> >> >> >> >> Bay State’s Medusa beats Europe’s best at international ... >> <http://www.bostonherald.com/lifestyle/food_beverage/2016/05/bay_state_s_medusa_beats_europe_s_best_at_international_beer> >> Tiny 14-month-old Medusa Brewing Co. >> View on www.bostonherald.com >> <http://www.bostonherald.com/lifestyle/food_beverage/2016/05/bay_state_s_medusa_beats_europe_s_best_at_international_beer> >> Preview by Yahoo >> >> >> The hard to get Wormtown IPA is outstanding, as well as Massachusetts >> continues to rock it with craft beer. To all you Vermont beer snobs: get >> your heads outta' your arses and appreciate beers from elsewhere. There's >> more to beer than those ones that you exclusively worship brewed in some >> creaky old farmhouse and packaged with drawings of hippies and Grateful >> Dead crap (hey, I actually like those). That said, I must say that I >> actually enjoyed the Lost Nation Vermont Pilsner than I did the one brewed >> down the street from me and the latter is darn good. >> >> Mark P. Renson >> >> >> >> On Tuesday, June 7, 2016 6:55 PM, David Merfeld <[log in to unmask] >> <[log in to unmask]>> wrote: >> >> >> It has been a long time since anyone posted a trip report. So, I don't >> think I would be violating protocol to post a season-end (or, at least, my >> season-end) Summary and count: >> >> December 2015 >> - 1 Day at Copper >> - 1 Day at Cooper >> - 4 Days at the Skinner Hut (10th Mountain Division) >> - 2 Days at Hoodoo >> - 1 Day at Bachelor >> - 3 Days XC in Oregon (Hoodoo, Virginia Meisner, and local trails) >> >> January >> - 1 Day XC in Quebec (Mont-Sainte Anne, a great touring center) >> - Yup, that's it for January >> >> February >> - 1 Day at St. Anton (Austria; this was supposed to be a day in >> Liechtenstein, but my luggage arrived two days late) >> - 1 Day at Stuben & St. Christophe >> - 4 Days hut skiing outside Ischgl (crossing back and forth between >> Austria to Switzerland) >> - 1 Day at Ischgl >> >> March >> - 1 Day at Sunlight, Colorado (a LMTR!) >> >> So, the total was pretty pathetic, with the lowest January count ever and >> the earliest end ever. But, there were some amazing days, especially the >> earned turns in Colorado and Austria. And, I have 5 new areas: >> St. Anton >> Stuben >> St. Christophe >> Ischgl >> Sunlight >> >> Bringing my life-list to 150 >> >> David Merfeld >> >> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >> SkiVt-L is brought to you by the University of Vermont. >> >> To unsubscribe, visit http://list.uvm.edu/archives/ skivt-l.html >> <http://list.uvm.edu/archives/skivt-l.html> >> >> >> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SkiVt-L >> is brought to you by the University of Vermont. >> To unsubscribe, visit http://list.uvm.edu/archives/ skivt-l.html >> <http://list.uvm.edu/archives/skivt-l.html> >> >> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SkiVt-L >> is brought to you by the University of Vermont. >> To unsubscribe, visit http://list.uvm.edu/archives/ skivt-l.html >> <http://list.uvm.edu/archives/skivt-l.html> >> >> >> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SkiVt-L >> is brought to you by the University of Vermont. >> To unsubscribe, visit http://list.uvm.edu/archives/ skivt-l.html >> <http://list.uvm.edu/archives/skivt-l.html> >> >> >> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SkiVt-L >> is brought to you by the University of Vermont. >> To unsubscribe, visit http://list.uvm.edu/archives/skivt-l.html >> >> >> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SkiVt-L >> is brought to you by the University of Vermont. >> >> To unsubscribe, visit http://list.uvm.edu/archives/skivt-l.html >> > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SkiVt-L is > brought to you by the University of Vermont. > > To unsubscribe, visit http://list.uvm.edu/archives/skivt-l.html > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SkiVt-L is brought to you by the University of Vermont. 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